The ‘Illness to Wellness’ initiative, in partnership with the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), has launched a campaign to raise awareness and combat discrimination against Hepatitis B patients, particularly mothers affected by the virus. This initiative aims to address the lack of awareness surrounding Hepatitis B and its transmission while advocating for preventive measures and ending societal stigma, the institute informed in a press statement on Saturday.
The ‘Winning Over Mothers With Hepatitis B’ (WOMB) initiative, a key component of the collaboration, focuses on preventing mother-to-child transmission of Hepatitis B and ensuring the reintegration of affected mothers into society. With over 40 million people infected with Hepatitis B in India, there remains a pressing need to dispel misconceptions and promote preventive measures.
During an awareness session organised by ILBS and ‘Illness to Wellness’, Dr Shiv K Sarin, Director and Chancellor of ILBS, and Dr Arti Ahuja, Ex-Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, emphasised the importance of vaccination and information dissemination to combat discrimination against Hepatitis B patients.
Anil Rajput, Chairperson of ASSOCHAM National CSR Council, commended the WOMB initiative for its efforts to raise awareness about mother-to-child transmission of Hepatitis B and eliminate stigma. He highlighted the importance of collective synergies in achieving the goals of awareness campaigns, expressing confidence in the initiative’s ability to alleviate societal dogmas.
Launched in December 2022, the WOMB initiative has been instrumental in spreading awareness about Hepatitis B transmission, ending stigma, and creating a supportive patient network. The partnership between ‘Illness to Wellness’ and EMPATHY aims to sensitise people about Hepatitis B and C, disseminate critical information, and promote good health practices across India, the press statement read.